1.1
On 25 October 2022, the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023.
Portfolio coverage
1.2
In accordance with resolutions of the Senate on 27 July 2022, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Employment and Workplace Relations.
1.3
A full list of agencies is available at Appendix 1.
Portfolio Budget Estimates Statements 2022–23
1.4
The Portfolio Budget Estimates Statements 2022–23 for the Education portfolio and the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 25 October 2022.
Hearings
1.5
On 27 July 2022, the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, moved that Budget Estimates hearings for the committee would occur from Tuesday 8 November 2022 (commencing no earlier than 2:00pm) to Thursday 10 November 2022.
1.6
Accordingly, the committee agreed to consider particulars of proposed expenditure as follows:
Employment and Workplace Relations matters – 8 November 2022
Employment and Workplace Relations matters and Education matters – 9 November 2022
Education matters – 10 November 2022.
1.7
The first day of hearings focused on the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, under the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The second day of hearings focused on the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio up to the dinner break, and after the dinner break, moved to the Education portfolio, under the responsibility of the Department of Education. The third day of hearings focused on the Education portfolio.
1.8
The committee heard evidence from the following Ministers:
Senator the Hon Murray Watt, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister for Emergency Management, representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Education and the Assistant Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Education.
1.9
Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of their portfolio departments and agencies:
Ms Natalie James, Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Dr Michele Bruniges AM, Secretary, Department of Education.
1.10
The committee extends its appreciation to the Ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting it’s 2022–23 budget estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.11
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee set 16 December 2022 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice arising from the 2022–23 budget estimates hearings.
1.12
Answers to questions on notice are published on the committee’s website.
Hansard transcripts
1.13
Committee Hansard transcripts are accessible on the committee’s website.
1.14
In this report, references to the committee Hansard are to the proof transcripts. Page numbers may vary between the transcripts of the Proof Hansard and the Official Hansard.